Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Home of Richard Henry Wilde

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Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 8, 2010

1. Home of Richard Henry Wilde Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Richard Henry Wilde, one of Georgia's most gifted sons - poet, scholar. lawyer, statesman. Lived in this house from 1825 to 1842. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Spet. 24, 1789, he moved to Augusta with his parents in 1802. He was listed as a merchant and law student until 1809, when admitted to the bar. Served as Solicitor General and ex-officio Attorney General of Georgia in 1811- 13; elected to Congress in 1815- 17, again in 1825 and for four more terms in 1827 through 1835. Spent his time writing and traveling from 1835 through 1840, then moved to New Orleans to teach law at the University of Louisiana in 1843. He died in New Orleans in 1847 but was reburied in the Augusta City Cemetery in 1886.

Erected 1956 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 121-31.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Education • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.

Location. 33°

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28.465′ N, 82° 0.94′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. Marker is on Pickens Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2229 Pickens Road, Augusta GA 30904, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Great Indian Trading Path (approx. 0.2 miles away); Augusta Arsenal (approx. 0.2 miles away); Montrose (approx. 0.2 miles away); Village of Summerville (approx. ¼ mile away); Augusta Arsenal 1941 (approx. ¼ mile away); The Home of Charles Jones Jenkins, Jr., LL. D. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Home of John Forsyth (approx. 0.4 miles away); Summerville Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Regarding Home of Richard Henry Wilde. Richard Henry Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland on September 24,1789 and came to America at age eight. Wilde, his father deceased soon after their arrival, and still a young man, moved to Augusta, Georgia to take advantage of a menial job offered him as a clerk in a dry-goods store. When he established himself he convinced his mother to move to Georgia and to open a business of their own. Wilde worked in the business by day and endeavored to educate himself by his own doing at night. At age eighteen he began his study of law with Joseph Hutchinson. Two years after beginning

Home of Richard Henry Wilde Marker, looking east along Pickens Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 8, 2010

2. Home of Richard Henry Wilde Marker, looking east along Pickens Road

his studies, at age twenty, in 1809, he was admitted to practice law and began his legal practice in Augusta. Wilde would go on to serve as the first Attorney-General of Georgia (1811-1813) and as a member of Congress. From 1815 to 1835, Wilde served a number of terms in Congress but was defeated in several reelection efforts. From 1835 to 1840 he studied abroad, chiefly Italian literature, focusing on Dane and Tasso. In 1843 he moved to New Orleans to establish a legal practice and continue his literary pursuits. He became a professor of constitutional law at the law department at the University of Louisiana at New Orleans. He died of yellow fever in New Orleans on September 10, 1847. After several removals, he now rests in burial at the City Cemetery, Augusta, Georgia. [Source: Mildred Lewis Rutherford, The South in History and Literature 121 (Atlanta: Franklin-Turner, 1907) (1906)]

Also see . . . Richard Henry Wilde, Wikipedia entry. Wilde also wrote a well known poem "Hesperia" about the geography and topography of the United States. He wrote several other works, prompting Rufus Wilmot Griswold to consider including him in one of his influential anthologies. (Submitted on September 28, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Richard Henry Wilde image. Click for full size.

Evert A. & George L. Duyckinck, The Cyclopedia of American Literature 805

3. Richard Henry Wilde

(Philadelphia: William Rutter & Co., 1880) (Vol. 1)

Home of Richard Henry Wilde image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 8, 2010

4. Home of Richard Henry Wilde

2229 Pickens Road, Augusta

Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 8, 2010

5. Home of Richard Henry Wilde

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,190 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 28, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.